Agnes Grey was
written in 1847 by Anne Bronte, youngest sister to better-known Charlotte (Jane Eyre) and Emily (Wuthering Heights). This novel is primarily
based on Anne’s own life and her experience as a governess for wealthy families.
Many people consider this an important piece of work, describing it as a frank
portrayal of the Victorian Era and its class system. I tended to find the
character of Agnes Grey fairly tedious with her constant self-righteousness and
fault-finding. No one likes a martyr, but Agnes Grey definitely sees herself as
one. Clearly Anne Bronte was not a successful governess, and you have to wonder
if she even liked children.
Agnes Grey insisted on becoming a governess so her family would
not have to support her, even though she had no training or experience with
children. As a former teacher, I know there are entitled children and “helicopter”
parents, but I have yet to find a student who was so incorrigible that he or
she could not be inspired to participate in a classroom activity. I also know
that teachers need to bend a little because when they set themselves upon a pedestal,
students will do everything in their mischievous power to knock them off.
I read this book for the Back to the Classics reading
challenge under the category of A Classic by a Woman Author. I thought the
style of this book was easy to read, especially given the year it was written.
The latter half of the book was fairly entertaining, especially when Agnes got
her own love interest at the same time the Murray girls were pursuing their own
future husbands. Based on that, I might consider reading her second novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which most
people agree is a better book.
